End Game

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Nate

The wind cut sharp against my face as I leaned over the yacht's railing, staring down at the dark water. Beyond the harbor, the skyline shimmered with city lights, their reflections stretching across the waves like broken glass. I wasn't even supposed to be here. But the second Samuel mentioned after practice that William was in town to see Aurora—spending the night on some luxury yacht he'd rented—jealousy twisted in my gut, raw and relentless.

I couldn't stand it. Knowing she'd run back to him, that she'd ignored my call after we kissed, like it hadn't meant a damn thing. Convenient timing for her "break" to end, right when things between us had started to feel real.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. She could pretend it didn't happen, but I couldn't. That kiss lit something up in me I couldn't shake. The idea of her sailing off into some private sunset with him made my blood boil. I wasn't about to sit around and let her ignore me. So yeah, I showed up—to remind her that what happened between us wasn't over, no matter how much easier it might be for her to pretend otherwise. She could have her little yacht party, but I wasn't letting her erase me that easily.

"Why are you so quiet?" Isla's voice cut into my thoughts. She stood beside me, blonde hair whipping in the wind, eyes narrowed in concern.

I forced a smile. "Just taking it all in."

"Well, lighten up," she teased, bumping her shoulder against mine. "You got us on a luxury yacht, for crying out loud. The perfect way to make it up to me after you ghosted and then had a secret cooking party with Aurora."

I didn't want to drag Isla into this. We weren't together. But I knew I couldn't show up alone. So I called her after practice, and of course she said yes. Isla never asked questions—she just rolled with it, always ready to forgive, always willing to spend a night out with me like nothing had happened. 

Turning from the water, I scanned the deck. Samuel and Callie lounged nearby, laughing over drinks, looking like the evening was just another casual night out. And then there was William—Captain Perfect—standing with Aurora at the bow. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but watching them together made my stomach twist.

I'd tried calling her after we kissed, hoping to explain there was nothing going on with Isla—that it wasn't what she thought, at least not for me. But she hadn't answered. Being shut out, especially by her, made my chest ache.

"What's the deal with William, anyway?" Isla asked, following my gaze. "Is he seriously as loaded as Callie says?"

"Apparently," I muttered, watching him lean closer to Aurora, whispering something that made her laugh. That laugh—it hit like a punch to the gut. "He's like every other privileged frat boy I've ever seen. His watch probably costs more than Mom's house."

Isla raised a brow, giving me a side-eye. "You sound jealous."

"I'm not—" I started, but she shot me a look that said she wasn't buying it. "I just hate pretentious, entitled douchebags. That's all."

But I was jealous. Not just of William, but of everything. The ease. The money. The yacht. Aurora's laughter spilling so freely for him. He swooped in, and of course everything fell neatly into place.

Meanwhile, I'd been fighting uphill my whole life, even more so after my mom gave me up. But things were looking up lately. My foster brother, the one I've spent so much time worrying about, was doing better. The chaos at home finally settled down, which was a win I hadn't expected.

But this... this situation with Aurora was all I could think about.

"Yo, Nate!" Samuel's voice snapped me out of my head. He waved me over. "Come join us, man! We're going to take a photo."